From the first stanza we begin to get an idea of Salome’s character. She proves herself to be very promiscuous, ‘ I’d done it before (and doubtless I’ll do it again sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me-whose?’ Salome shows she is licentious by confessing it’s not the first stranger she has bedded (we presume that ‘head on the pillow is a euphemism). She mentions how she’d done it many times before and that the likelihood is she’ll do it again; she shows little to no signs of remorse. This already proves her as disturbed as most young ladies would feel ashamed or at least feel regretful off their actions.
Salome goes on to prove herself even more disturbed than we initially think. As the poem progresses we find out that this ‘head on the pillow’ is a double entendre. Salome is actually literally talking about a man she has beheaded. This explains why his lips were ‘colder than pewter’ and why his hair was ‘rather matted’; these are all hints Salome has used to increase the suspense and climax. Anyone who murders is not in the sanest frame of mind let alone someone who sleeps with there victim prior. Salome is presented as a disturbed and dangerous sexual predator.
Salome shows she is disturbed by her lack of concern ‘ what was his name? Peter? Simon? Andrew? John? ‘. Salome shows disregard, as she cannot even remember the name of the man she has slept with and killed. Most people remember the name of someone who they’ve just met! When Salome lists the name it also gives us another insight into the colossal scale of men she has probably slept with. It also makes references to the bible, as the names she lists are the names of disciples.
Salome seems outwardly confident ‘ good looking of course’, despite the fact she knows she is murdering someone, she still strives for the best. This statement almost seems as if Salome would expect no less. This shows she must view herself as quite attractive yet uses this as a weapon. The way in which she also seems to carefully select good-looking men to kill also adds to her twistedness.
Though Salome is disturbed she shows signs of ambiguity ‘ what did it matter’. This enjambment with the previous line makes it read as if she is slightly uncertain. Was it the right thing? Or was it the wrong thing?
Salome also seems to make a serious topic seem quite jovial by using plays on words ‘ hungover and wrecked from a night on the batter’. Originally we can interpret batter as a euphemism for feeling rough and cloudy-headed however the word ‘batter’ also links to Salome’s actions from the previous night. Batter is a violent sounding word, which describes constant beating, could this be what she did to the unlucky stranger…
Despite having already murdered the stranger, Salome still shows hostility towards the stranger, ‘ as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter. The use of the word blighter shows us that she shows no warmth to him and that she is irritated by his presence. At this point most normal people would be feeling sympathetic towards their victim. Salome shows herself as cold.
When Salome calls on her maid and then says she’s going to ‘clean up her act’, she literally means clean up. She goes on to ‘turf out the blighter’ and literally get a move on. Though some people may interpret Salome cleaning up her act as remorseful she soon reverts to her old psychotic ways.
Another disturbed characteristic is the fact Salome knows what she’s doing is wrong ‘ who’d come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome’s bed’. Salome is comparing her bed to a slaughterhouse, which is a place where things are mass murdered.
Salome is callous and uncaring ‘ and ain’t life a bitch-’, this shows how uncaring she is and how she finds the situation quite humorous. She in no way feels guilt her eyes ‘ glitter in the tile mirror’. The word glittering insinuates that she is contented and proud.
Similarly in Duffy’s Havisham, Havisham is presented as an extremely disturbed lady as well. She too shows signs of mental instability.
